A study of esoteric philosophy, and in a sense, but only a sense, religious thought, eastern, and western. A site meant to guide others in their own personal development through esoteric meanings of scriptures eastern and western, especially emphasizing the I Ching

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Well, I recently installed windows Vista, and to a certain extent I love it, but it has created problems, my printer no longer works, and some of my programs aren't working right.

Anyway, getting back to the subject at hand, the I Ching, and esoteric material, the lady in the third chapter of the I Ching, waits ten years before accepting a man.

If anybody thinks men and women think, or react to things alike, they are barking up the wrong tree. Most men are totally unsuccessful with women, because they haven't got a clue about the opposite sex's mental and emotional makeup. And yes, women, though you don't think so, you have total, complete and total control over social relationships. Many men slip on the rocks of social interaction because they do not know. And often, their social life is damaged, sometimes even their career, beyond repair all because they do not understand the different way in which the female mind works. It does not work to be nice to a woman. (I'm not talking about being rude either, although that is better than being too nice.) At first this seems very strange, and yet, in some odd way, I have over the years eventually discovered a rational for this. And for men, I do recommend the work of David DeAngelo in this matter. He's not spiritually oriented at all, but in terms of yin and yang, male and female, one can see a whole new perspective. Men who are not nice, often seem to a woman to just be playing with them, and how much better that than some guy who just gushes over them, showing no self control at all. Unfortunately for men, something as simple as a hello can be taken by some women as a come on. Many men falter on this level alone.

Well, back to the I Ching, hexagram 31 gives us some general guidelines to follow, and if we understood the original language, I am sure we would have more to go by, but there is something available to us anyway. The general gist of the hexagram is that we should not "rush in where angels fear to tread." Or, in other words, take your time, be careful about how you go about approaching someone. We should not just follow our inclinations at any given time, but be able to hold back. And this works not just in male female relationships, but is a life principle in general. Sometimes it is much better to take our time about things, and develop good relationships, or in other cases, a good working model, before we go on with anything.

Sunday, April 15, 2007

I have been reading a fascinating book by William Henry called, "Oracle of the illuminati." I recommed it to everyone for a fascinating new, and probably very alien to most, definition and viewpoint of esoteric Christianity and near eastern, (and far eastern too) thought. Check out his web page that I have listed.

Saturday, April 14, 2007

All through the I Ching we have the message of union or unity and how it can be brought about. We see this right at the beginning: And in hexagram three the first attempts at union are made, for here is the beginning of all things. When yin and yang split, there is at once an attempt to reunite. Was it "Peaches and Cream"? who sang, "Reunited and it feels so good, reunited cause we understood..." This is one of the deepest messages of the I Ching. How we can reunite. This issue involves many levels but the principles are basically the same on each level. On one level we reunite the yin and the yang within ourselves, on another we reunite with our soul mate, on another we reunite with the family we belong with, and on another we reunite with our leaders, and society as a whole. Finally we reunite with the sage and then reunite with the eternal one, the source of all. The I Ching, as well as all other truly sacred scriptures is an oracle that in metaphorical and allegorical terms teaches us how to do that.

So in hexagram three we see this evolution taking place on a core level. From mistrust to "hitching the wagon." Or getting hitched, to our soul mate, to our divine inner self, on each level. The first line tells us we cannot do it alone. We need a helper. That helper on one level can be our true spiritual guide, the Sage that is so often talked about in the I Ching, or the superior man, the I Ching itself. The inner part of us that is the real I, that is what I am talking about. The problem in line two is that we have learned to distrust others. But why do we mistrust others? Because when our minds are not clear and we are walking about in the dark, in the illusion of a materiTal world, we cannot trust even ourselves. From here we walk about as if "in a dark forest" thinking to ourselves all the time that we are not blind, hence we do not need any helper, especially not from some mystical inner world. But because of allowing ourselves that illusion, we reincarnate over and over again, never remembering who we are. But the fourth line says, "an opportunity to make connections offers itself. Neither false pride nor false reserve should deter us." The third line sees no need for a teacher. In its arrogance it says, "We are not blind." We need no teacher. The fourth line, in contradistinction, says, "Strive for union." The fourth line sees the potential for a connection, especially with the fifth line, the one in authority. The fifth line recognizes the problems, but here, although he has good will toward others, unity is still not fully achieved, because now, although he no longer has to deal with his/her own distrust, he/she must deal with the mistrust of others. He realizes the rational behind this, thus does not attack full force, but works toward developing mutual confidence.

The same thing happens, in respect to the fifth line, in the way the Sage, the I Ching, the eternal Father/Mother, teaches us. It realizes our lack of faith and understanding. It recognizes the blind spots in our thinking, and rather than forcing its brand of teaching on us, allows for the life experiences offered an individual according to one's own karma, to allow us to be brought to a place of acceptance and humility in life, so that we may be taught.

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

The issue here is one of a struggle. When spirit falls into matter, (or Adam and Eve falls into sin, or onto the material plain, or duality becomes part of our psyche) there is by nature at this point a struggle to find oneself. The fall, as it can be called, entails a bit of amnesia. We do not remember who we truly are, or what our true spiritual heritage is because we fall become as a result of the fall, esoterically speaking, separated from our true spirit. This is the meaning in the book of Genesis when God says, "in the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die." The serpent says, "Yeah, does God say... Ye shall not surely die for in the day... Your eyes shall be opened to know good and evil." And every since then esotericists, and literalists have been arguing over the true meaning. For obviously man did not die on that day, in fact, his eyes were opened, so who was lying and who was telling the truth? It would appear at first glance that God was the one that was really lying. But was he? Perhaps there is a different meaning to the death that he was talking about. The death, perhaps, entailed a bit of amnesia. Man forgot his true spiritual heritage, where yin and yang are not separate, and now live in separation, not only from God, but from one another, being split in two. (The esoteric meaning of the taking of a rib from Adam.

Well, we could discourse about this for a while, but let's get back to the I Ching. In hexagram three, the split has occurred. Man now sees himself as separate. Separate from God, separate from the observed universe, and separate from his female counterpart. Since he has forgotten who he is, now there is a sense of urgency in the sense that he needs to find his way in the world. (We will shortly be discussing this concept in a discussion of hexagram 53 also, and then later from all the first lines in the I Ching,) More than this, we see not only the story of the fall of man in hexagram three, but also a hidden discussion of the separation of man from woman. When we seek (unconsciously) to reunite our male and female side, we run into confusion for some time. As a result of the fall, or the separation, there is a natural tendency to be wary of our fellow man, as well as even our own soul mate. The first impression is that the other is a robber. The other has come to steal from us or take something away from us if even only our virtue. It is only in the course of deep events and incarnations full of experience, that we begin to see others in their more positive form. (For it is the way we ((inwardly)) see others that ultimately shapes the experience that we have with others.) For a more detailed discussion of this, see hexagram thirty eight.

Since we tend for the most part, and pretty readily, to misperceive the intentions of others, it is often in our own best interests not to immediately except the help that is offered until we have matured enough to recognize the good in others. In a discussion I remember, there was a question presented to the I Ching about a woman's relationship with a man, and hexagram 3 line 2 was at least part of the answer. Some said she should not accept that man but wait on another. This depends a great deal on the situation, for though there is a hint of this in the Wilhelm/Baynes commentary, the real question is, have conditions settled down? Have they settled down enough that we see clearly? Are we now in a position where we can make proper judgments?

Sunday, April 08, 2007

By the way, I hope that anyone reading this will realize they need to be on Hilary's website, reading and contributing to the conversations. They are very helpful, especially for beginners, but others too.

She recently recommended a book about "Why affirmations don't work." I don't know what the book said, I haven't read it, but I do have something to say in this regard. Well, this is built right into the I Ching. The first two hexagrams relate to the division of yin and yang. In hexagram three, the division of yin and yang lead to "the fall" or the situation of the descent of spirit into matter. Then the I Ching actually starts with hexagram three which tells us of the fall and the confusion that follows the descent. Because there is confusion, the fledgling needs a teacher. (Hexagram four) It is not until the end of the book that yin and yang find their proper places, hexagram 63, and lead to harmony, 63 and 64. When yin and yang separate the mind becomes confused because it is torn into two parts. It no longer recognizes unity, but now recognizes duality. As such, an attempt to recognize the positive, as in an affirmation, automatically brings into mind the possibility of its opposite. Therefore if we affirm that we are beautiful, the exact opposite is brought to mind as well. We may not be immediately aware of this. When we do an affirmation, we are normally thinking what we want to be. When we think of what we want to be, we are affirming that we are not that now. The best way is not to affirm that we are beautiful, but to simply see ourselves joyfully in the present, not in the future, as being that. This is what we are already, it is not a future event to be attained, it is now. When we simply joyfully recognize what we already are, we are not bringing into mind the possibility of the opposite. We can have anything we want. The trick is knowing what we want. The old addage, if that works then why aren't you rich is unfair. There are a multitude of things to be and accomplish besides being rich. Best to recognize that richness in the other, as well as ourselves, once again as here and now, not in the future. In this way we create wealth for all, not just ourselves. Whatever "type" of wealth we wish for, that is. Physical, spiritual, emotional, what have you.

Wednesday, April 04, 2007

Carlos was kind enough to comment on his website, which is in Spanish. I do not speak Spanish well, but I can give a hint of what his website is about, and I believe, there are websites out there that can do translations for us.

The headline says something to the effect of "The Art of Strategy." Which I think is in effect, "The Art of War." The website is, in effect about that. Next is a quote from Sun Tzu who wrote "The Art of War." The quote is: "He who wins a battle is strong. He who wins before a battle is powerful. The highest wisdom is to win without a fight." Some of you might enjoy this website.

Monday, April 02, 2007

There just isn't enough time for anything. I just bought a new book (my subconscious complexes are having a hey day, One belief system is saying you don't have money, time, or the need for a new book. The other is saying, you do, you do, and you do.) To make matters worse, I bought one just yesterday that is a combination of relationships, science looking at consciousness, and the male and female approach to relationships.

(I said I would do more on hexagram three, and I will, but this is as you might say, breaking news.)

Why relationships? Because it is something every one is interested in, and hopefully there are a number of people out there reading this. (Hopefully more than I think are reading it.) Once again, I do not feel qualified to talk about relationships. I have been alone most of my life, with few exceptions. I have problems carrying on a discussion if it is outside the field of metaphysics. And in order to get into relationships, a man has to be capable of not appearing interested, which is just not my style. I am what I am. (See Sun Tzu's classic, "The Art of War," and apply it to relationships.

The problem with relationships boils down, to a large extent to this. Both sexes feel they are being misunderstood, and dominated by the other sex. This is due to the fact that women feel like their emotions are not validated, and men feel like they are overwhelmed and swamped by a woman's emotions. It is a yin and yang situation, my friends, pure and simple. Yes, women, men feel dominated just as you do. Why? because women being more yin, network much more, are not so much rugged individualists, and with their feelings they cower us into a corner, afraid to come out because he will be shouted down by the collective voice of women? Are men and women both dominated? In a way, yes, and in a way no. We are because we have certain mental predispositions that lead us in certain directions without our ever realizing there is another choice. We live according to our tendencies.

Let me put it this way. A fully integrated person, a Chuang Tzu, will have integrated yin with yang. And on the personal level, he/she thinks, but thinks with feeling. Pure rationalism might work in working out a mathematical formula, but in order to conceive of the possibility of a mathematical formula, intuition and feeling must be integrated into the process. Rationalism can only carry us so far. But becoming immersed in emotionalism can lead us off the track as well. It behoves both sexes to understand this. A man needs to listen to a woman's feelings, and accept them for what they are, whether he sees the logic in them or not. This is very, very difficult, for often a woman will, when pressed to the limit fight back with extreme emotion, anger, what have you, and a man, in accordance with the laws that we live with, can do nothing, but move away from the situation. On the same level, a man must understand, and find the rationality of the emotional argument. For, for her, there is a rationality to it. It is just hard to cut to the chase sometimes, and understand what that is.

While it is true that thoughts are things, thoughts by themselves cannot create. In order to create, one must infuse the magnetic power of attraction found only, or at least much more so in emotion, (In actuality, all thoughts have some emotion attached to them.) It is emotion that creates, we just need to be careful what we create, (rationalism.) Jesus made this clear in the book of Thomas, when some of the men were upset because a woman seemingly ranked higher than them; but Jesus said, "When the male becomes female, and the male female." And in the beginning of the book of Thomas it is said, something to the effect, When one can make the inner outer, and the outer inner..." And again, "Whoever discovers the meaning of these words shall not taste of death."

Compare with the Tao Teh Ching, where it is said in chapter ten:

Comparing body and soul, and embracing the one, can you avoid separation?

Opening an closing the gates of heaven, can you play the role of women?